South America

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block traveled to Chile, Argentina and Brazil in March 2014 with Anderson School of Management Dean Judy Olian and Graduate School of Education & Information Studies Dean Marcelo Suárez-Orozco. Situated on the Pacific Rim, UCLA views itself as a nexus between South America and Asia. To that end, Chancellor Block met with alumni, leaders in business and education, foundations, and government and nongovernmental organizations to explore potential partnerships and collaborations, as well as to promote UCLA as one of the world's most attractive universities for South Americans.

Chancellor Block's goal in Chile was to strengthen existing relationships between UCLA and top Chilean universities. Using the strong relationship between Chile and California demonstrated in the Chile-California “Partnership for the 21 Century” as a framework, Chancellor Block held talks with his counterparts at the Univeristy of Chile, Pontifica Universidad Católica de Chile, and Universidad Adolfo Ibañez (with which UCLA Anderson conducts a dual executive MBA program).

March 2014Chile: Education Policy

As Chile struggles with education reform, policy discussions about declining state support were frequent in Santiago. Chancellor Block and Dean Olian spent time with former Minister of Education and Bruin Harald Beyer to offer their advice at the headquarters of Beyer's think tank, Centro de Estudios Publicos. The two UCLA leaders also strategized with a group of Chilean university presidents organized by Santander Universia, a network of over 1,200 universities who receive support from Santander Group, one of the largest banks in the world and a significant donor to UCLA.

March 2014Chile: Alumni Relations

UCLA is proud to count its Chilean alumni among its most loyal and well connected in the world. Chancellor Block and Dean Olian were welcomed at a UCLA alumni meeting hosted by U.S. Ambassador Michael Hammer and Deputy Chief of Mission Steve Liston held in Liston's home in Santiago. Over 100 alumni were treated to a festive evening filled with Bruin pride and networking. At the reception, Dean Olian presented long-time supporter Guillermo Tagle (UCLA MBA 1991) with the Dean's Global Service Award, a top prize awarded by the Anderson School. Alex Wolff, former U.S. Ambassador to Chile, assisted in arranging the event.

March 2014Argentina: Alumni Relations

UCLA alumni were welcomed to the Bosch Palace, a beautiful French palace in the Palermo section of Buenos Aires and home to the United States Ambassador to Argentina. Over 50 alumni attended the reception with Chancellor Block, Dean Olian and Dean Marcelo Suarez-Orozco. UCLA congratulates The Honorable Noah Mamet (B.A. 1992) on his confirmation as United States Ambassador to Argentina and looks forward to expanding its presence in Buenos Aires.

March 2014Brazil

In Brazil, Chancellor Block fostered relationships with key nonprofit organizations and prominent leaders in education and business. Randal Johnson, Distinguished Professor of Spanish and Portuguese, joined Chancellor Block, Dean Olian and Dean Suarez-Orozco in meetings in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro that explored potential opportunities for partnership and collaboration.

March 2014Brazil: Partnerships

In Sao Paulo, the UCLA delegation met an array of organziations, including Global Universidade, a unit of Brazil's national? state-owned? television network; Endeavor, a nonprofit organization that promotes entrepreneurship in the country; Fundacao Estudar, a group that supports exchange relationships between Brazilian universities and educational institutions in foreign countries; the Lemann Foundation, a highly influential foundation funded by UCLA donor and philanthropist Jorge Paulo Lemann; and Insper, a new university.
In Rio de Janeiro, Chancellor Block met with Instituto Moreira Salles, a prominent museum with one of the world's most preeminent photography collections, about possible collaboration with the Hammer Museum. He discussed similar potential cooperative initiatives with Steve Solot of the Rio Film Commission and Roberto Irineu Marinho, president of Globo, the leading media conglomerate in Brazil.

March 2014Brazil: Alumni Relations

The Chancellor hosted events in both Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro for UCLA alumni living in Brazil. UCLA alumnus and CEO and Chairman of Banco Itau, Pedro Moreira Salles, offered a keynote address at the Aso Paulo reception and then led a discussion on the Brazilian economy. More than 50 alumni in Sao Paulo attended the event. In Rio, a private breakfast was held overlooking Copacabana beach with a dozen alumni. The small reception allowed for stimulating conversation on the growth of UCLA presence and activities in Brazil and the growing number of Brazilians at UCLA.